U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland - Photo: Department of the Interior
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland on Tuesday announced more than $16 million in federal grants to build new urban parks and trails and improve existing parks in the Raleigh area.
Haaland said the funding will support a range of local projects aimed at enhancing community spaces and environmental quality — particularly for disadvantaged communities.
Research shows that low-income neighborhoods and communities of color often have fewer parks and green spaces than wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods, a gap the Biden administration says it’s working to close.
“Not everyone has the same access to nature,” said Haaland. “It’s why we are committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, their zip code, what is in their bank account, can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors.”
Haaland was joined by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper at Walnut Creek Wetland Park for today’s announcement. The park received nearly $1 million in Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) funds earlier this year to create a new public recreational area and an open-air pavilion. The goal is to increase outdoor access for the historically underserved surrounding community.
During his remarks, Cooper highlighted his two gubernatorial executive orders: one to restore North Carolina’s natural resources and another to implement a comprehensive approach to environmental justice for disadvantaged communities. He said these orders, along with federal funds, will help close that gap.
“What we want to do is combine our conservation efforts along with this environmental justice, as was done with this area right here, and to make sure that we are making opportunities for everyone, that everyone can enjoy the conservation and enjoy the outdoors and to participate,” said Cooper.
The ORLP program is a nationally competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant program created to aid disadvantaged, urban communities lacking access to nearby outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for the acquisition, development, or renovation of public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces.
Haaland also used the Tuesday event to announce new economic data showing that in 2023, 325.5 million national park visitors spent $26.4 billion in gateway communities — towns or cities located near major tourist attractions. She said this spending supported more than 415,000 jobs and contributed $55.6 billion to the nation’s economy overall, according to a new report by the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.
In North Carolina, national park visitors spent $2.6 billion in local gateway communities, supporting nearly 39,000 jobs. The state ranked second in the nation for total park visits and associated economic benefits, contributing $4.1 billion to the state’s economy, according to the report.
The secretary’s visit to Raleigh on Tuesday concluded her trip to North Carolina. On Monday, she toured restoration projects on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which has received $253 million for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades. The Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most visited units in the National Park System, supported nearly 18,000 jobs and generated $1.7 billion for local economies along its 469-mile route in 2022 alone, according to a release.
Haaland is the latest senior White House official to visit North Carolina. With the November election approaching, the Biden-Harris administration has been working to highlight how its programs are improving lives. However, polls earlier this year indicated that despite significant infrastructure investments across the country, many voters feel they have not seen these benefits. Communicating this message to voters in battleground states like North Carolina before the election could play a key role in the race for the white House.
Haaland’s announcement highlighted the following additional investments:
- The town of Garner will use an $8.5 million grant to construct a new park in Yeargan Park featuring four multiuse sports fields, a path connecting to historic downtown Garner, play and picnic areas, restrooms, and more.
- Nearly $8.7 million will support the development of a new natural park, restoration of the Pigeon House Branch and Greenway Trail, and upgrades to other park features at Smoky Hollow Park.
- The funds will also help transform a blighted 18-acre parking lot in Downtown Raleigh into a re-naturalized meadow with a restored Pigeon House Branch stream.